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Archaeological finds show that the area around Nettlebed has been inhabited since Palaeolithic times.[2]

The site was frequently travelled through since ancient times, being a pass through the Chiltern Hills used by the road between Oxford and Henley. The road between Henley and Wallingford was made into a turnpike in 1736 and ceased to be a turnpike in 1873.[3] It is now classified the A4130.

Nettlebed had what seems to have been the only smock mill in Oxfordshire.[7] It used to be at Chinnor but was moved to a windier site at Nettlebed in about 1825. It was a slender octagonal building with four common sails and a fantail. It burned down in 1912.[8]

The village is home to a long-established and highly regarded folk club which holds its concerts on Monday evenings from 8pm at The Village Club in Nettlebed High Street.

Nettlebed Folk Song Club was started in July 1975 at the Bull Inn. The club quickly became established as one of the folk music scene's major venues. When the Bull Inn was closed by its owners, Brakspear Brewery in 1991, the club moved to its present venue, which holds 200 people.

The Club is also famous for its unique special performances such as 'Feast of Fiddles' and 'Rocks Specials' where a mix of leading national performers and local artists provide themed evenings.[9] Nettlebed Folk Song Club is recognised[by whom?] as one of the top folk venues in the U.K. and in 2002 won the prestigious BBCRadio 2 Folk Club of the Year Award.[10]

In 2012, St Bartholomew's church was the venue for the wedding of Thierry Kelaart to Patrick Heathcote-Amory, son of Sir Ian Heathcote-Amory: Michael Middleton acted as father of the bride and guests included the Duchess of Cambridge. [11]